The Lay Ecclesial Life of Cassie Schemmel

By Kaelanne Jordan
mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

Cassie Schemmel’s journey into the heart of a Lay Ecclesial Community was a blend of serendipity, faith, and discernment. What started as a simple desire to travel and experience a new culture eventually led her to find a deep calling to serve in Living Water Community (LWC), a lay ecclesial community rooted in spirituality, service, and commitment to God.

A moment of inspiration

While attending a youth conference, Cassie experienced a transformative moment that marked the beginning of her vocation journey. “I was sitting at a youth conference, having recently returned to my faith, watching a group of Sisters dancing and singing on stage,” she recalled. “Looking back, I think that was the first moment I felt an inkling that God might be calling me to a life of service.”

This initial spark of inspiration became a defining moment for Cassie. In 2013, she was invited by a college professor, who worked “extensively” with LWC, to spend two months in Trinidad learning about ministry from the Community. At the time, she knew “almost nothing” about ecclesial communities but was “eager” to travel, so “I jumped at the chance.”

Little did she know that this trip would lead her to a deep sense of home and belonging. “After just one month with the Household in Living Water, I began to feel a deep sense of home and belonging,” Cassie told The Catholic News. “It took time and discernment, but I now truly believe God led me to this community–a place where my spirituality and my desire to serve with love could bear fruit.”

Vocation within Lay Ecclesial Communities

Vocation, in the context of Lay Ecclesial Communities, can be multifaceted. According to Cassie, in LWC, people are called in different ways. Some are called to consecrated life, living a commitment to celibacy, obedience, and simple living, while others are part of the community called “Household members” and those who live in the world.

There are also Covenant members, those who dedicate themselves to prayer and mission. Additionally, associate members, volunteers, and benefactors all contribute to the diverse body of the LWC.

Asked what the most rewarding part of her vocation as a Lay Ecclesial member has been, Cassie shared, “…it is easily the relationships between my brothers and sisters in Household and those who are consecrated in the World that have given me the most joy in Community.”

She referenced Proverbs 27:17: ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another’, to reiterate that community is the “perfect example” of that.

Day-to-Day of Community life

Cassie underscored just like each religious order and each community brings a different gift and strength into the Church through their Charism, or unique Spirit that God has given each community, so too do the Lay Ecclesial Communities.

Life within the Community is both structured and flexible. Cassie describes a typical day starting with Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, and morning prayer, followed by daily Mass. Each member has different ministries, “so our schedules depend on the day.”

Evenings are often spent in pastoral ministries including prayer meetings, evening classes, teens or young adults ministry. After a day of service, the community gathers for evening prayers and a shared meal.

One of the key differences between Lay Ecclesial Communities and Religious Orders is the structure of living arrangements. In Living Water, brothers and sisters live in mixed houses—separate living quarters but shared common spaces. “It is one of my favourite parts of our community because it means we get this whole different perspective during ministry and community life,” Cassie said.

Additionally, the “constitution” of LWC allows for “a little more” flexibility in the way members live out their commitment. This means each person is responsible for how they live their commitment and how deeply they live it out each day.

Overcoming misconceptions

Lay Ecclesial Communities, though a relatively new phenomenon in the Church, still face some challenges in terms of recognition and understanding. Cassie highlighted “we are blessed” in Trinidad, to have the support of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain and Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, a product of the Lay Ecclesial Community, which has helped these types of communities to really “flourish” in the Archdiocese.

She, however, revealed she did not have the same experience in the United States as she was preparing to move to Trinidad as many had not heard of or did not understand lay ecclesial communities.

“Lay consecrated life within an ecclesial community isn’t as clear-cut a vocation, so it took time to explain to friends and family the difference between this life and that of a Sister,” she told The Catholic News.

Cassie believes that to foster greater understanding and support for Lay Ecclesial Communities within the broader Church, there needs to be more visibility. She observed organisations that provide support for those who are discerning most often focus on Religious communities and diocesan priesthood.

She advises continuing to include Ecclesial Communities in vocation fairs, National Vocations Week, youth programmes like World Youth Day village and other vocation-oriented programmes are an “excellent” way to raise visibility for vocations within these communities.

“As members of the communities, we also carry the important responsibility of sharing our lives with others openly and authentically. Locally, we have already witnessed the fruits of lives well-lived within various Ecclesial Communities, and we pray that, through new vocations, these communities will continue to flourish and grow,” Cassie said.